- How Napoleon Ended The Terror Of The Spanish Inquisition | Files of the Inquisition | Real History [03/15/2024]
Posted on 03/16/2024 5:10:39 AM PDT by marktwain
Another book you might check out is the first-hand account of Antonio Pigafetta concerning Magellan’s voyage around the globe.
One thing he mentioned that stuck in my head was the encounter of ‘giants’ in Patagonia when they traveled thru what we now name as the strait of Magellan.
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Magellan_s_Voyage/sclFZPrPVhsC?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
“About $200 for the set!
Seems ripe for a reprint.”
I just did a search and cant find anything much cheaper either.
I probably bought the Desoto Chronicles back in 2019 or 2020. I bought the paperback version and I doubt I paid over $45 total for the set.
Cortez was a butcher.
Shouldn’t Spain give Mexico back to the original indigenous dwellers...the Aztecs?
Some are openly promoting the Aztec religion.
I first started reading Wm. H. Prescott’s books, “History of the Conquest of Mexico” and then followed up with his set of books, “The Conquest of Peru.” They are each 2 volume sets.
He wrote his books in the 1800s and gleaned most of his material from the accounts of the conquistadores & the priests.
Both sets are highly entertaining & I enjoyed reading them.
The style of writing back in the 1800s is quite different but definitely worth the effort, nevermind the fact it’s educational.
Anyways fast forward to today. I was running out of anything interesting in that same genre. Then I came upon a book that I initially thought would be repetitious of Prescott’s books on Peru. The reviews nudged me into giving it a try.
I am currently halfway through a book titled, “The Conquest of the Incas” by John Hemming. He did much more research than Prescott and I find it well-worth the read. He details the history of Pizarro’s encounter with the Incas & their leader, Atahualpa. He also gives a great narrative of what became of the Pizarro brothers and the subsequent Inca leadership after the killing of Atahualpa. Most importantly in my opinion, Hemming provides a ton of sources.
I highly recommend it! You can find it on ebay for about $10. It took almost 4 weeks to arrive but I’m happy with it.
Cortez was bad enough but wait until you read what Pizarro did to the Inca leader, Atahualpa.
They gave Atahualpa a choice. Either die on a bonfire as a pagan or become a Christian & die by garrotte.
Atahualpa initially refused the offer by Pizarro & tried the bonfire but quickly changed his mind and died a ‘Christian.’
I read this book back in 1961. an excellent read! Later read THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO AND PERU by Prescott. He tells how the Spanish climbed the volcano to obtain sulfur for making gun powder and got their first glimpse of the Aztec capitol from the top.
I found Beral Dias’ book again a few years back in a used book shop and reread it. Still a great work! So good I donated it to my local library. I later found they had tossed it. They prefer modern romances to real history.
I meant my prior comment to you yet somehow directed it to myself:
I first started reading Wm. H. Prescott’s books, “History of the Conquest of Mexico” and then followed up with his set of books, “The Conquest of Peru.” They are each 2 volume sets.
He wrote his books in the 1800s and gleaned most of his material from the accounts of the conquistadores & the priests.
Both sets are highly entertaining & I enjoyed reading them.
The style of writing back in the 1800s is quite different but definitely worth the effort, nevermind the fact it’s educational.
Anyways fast forward to today. I was running out of anything interesting in that same genre. Then I came upon a book that I initially thought would be repetitious of Prescott’s books on Peru. The reviews nudged me into giving it a try.
I am currently halfway through a book titled, “The Conquest of the Incas” by John Hemming. He did much more research than Prescott and I find it well-worth the read. He details the history of Pizarro’s encounter with the Incas & their leader, Atahualpa. He also gives a great narrative of what became of the Pizarro brothers and the subsequent Inca leadership after the killing of Atahualpa. Most importantly in my opinion, Hemming provides a ton of sources.
I highly recommend it! You can find it on ebay for about $10. It took almost 4 weeks to arrive but I’m happy with it.
Yeah, somehow history books are no longer that important in our libraries.
I find it disgusting.
I liked Bernal’s description of a catapult built by one of the soldiers. When they shot a stone for the first time, the stone went straight up, then down and smashed their catapult .
Bookmark
I would say the book was re-published six years ago. It’s been around for hundreds of years. The book is simply fantastic. It’s not the product of an academic, pontificating about everything, having a political agenda. It’s literally a soldier in his army writing the good the bad the ugly, their encounters with Indian women, the battles, the hardships and successes. Very nuts and bolts. Great book! Probably the best from that era.
The conquistadors were heroes. It’s shameful the way people trash them today. Them showing up in the land of the Aztecs was about like the allied armies rolling in the Nazi death camps.
Could you please include me on the ping list of “gods, graves, glyphs?”
thanks!
Cortez' letters were essentially reports of a Conquistador commander seeking favor, and explaining his actions, which were mostly extralegal.
What part of Cortez' actions were extralegal? And according to which set of laws and which jurisdictions? Thanks.
Success has many fathers. Defeat is an orphan.
Welcome.
Technically, Cortez was a rebel. He was trained in the law, and understood his position very well. The governor of of Cuba, Velasquez de Cuellar, had initially authorized Cortez only to explore the Mexican coast. Any attempt to go further would be beyond his authority and especially an effort to conquer new territory would usurp the Cuban governor’s authority. He could be hung for that. The governor got wind of Cortez’ intent before the expedition left and attempted to halt him, but Cortez escaped by leaving a few days early. Once Cortez landed, he tried to justify his act by establishing a new town, Vera Cruz, then having himself elected mayor, and then having the new town give him a charter for conquest. Later de Cuellar sent six-hundred men to Vera Cruz to arrest Cortez, but they were subverted by the prospect of plunder and joined Cortez. Nevertheless, Cortez alway remained careful to preserve one-fifth of all the gold and previous items for Charles V, in hopes of eventually being exonerated.
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